Bring Back Traditional 2D Animation – Adult Style!

You nasty, filthy pervert. No, not in the Hentai way.

But remember the good old days when 2D Animation was a viable, awe-inspiring art form –just starting to trickle to the bleeding edge? 

I mean, way back in the 1970-80s: prehistoric times to Millennials, of course:

That’s when a number of unexpected animation shockers emerged from the dark and mysterious film-woods, taking lots of us by surprise. Films you either already know (or should binge watch – now!)  Among these: Fritz the Cat (1972), Lord of the Rings (1978), Watership Down (1978), Heavy Metal (1981), American Pop (1982), The Plague Dogs (1982), Rock & Rule (1983), and the hybrid Roger Rabbit(1988).

Not that all of them were polished art - but they shared an irresistible appeal. And except for Fritz the Cat, that attraction wasn’t porn. 

No; these were films about Life, social issues, and universal human themes - movies that spoke directly to adults (more thoroughly than random throw-away-pop-reference Easter Eggs in the middle of some CG yarn.)

Plague Dogs – for instance – was a psalm to animal rights and a screed against inhumane medical research.  American Pop revolved around Dreams of Fame and Fortune, climbing up painfully branch by branch, through generations of one family tree.  As for Rock & Rule – that was pure Cyber-Punk animated fun, a Heavy Metal soundtrack on the side.

Then suddenly, the trend just vanished.  Not that a few gems can’t still be dug up, here and there: for instance, Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s brilliant Spirited Away.  Or the 3D offerings that appeal to the post-pubescent crowd. There, Pixar’s Toy Story series reigns supreme.  As do titles like Up and Wall-e as well.  (Which almost makes up for Cars… though one can never wipe that nasty slate clean.)

Sure, a TV boom has picked up some of the slack and served the niche.  These days, we’ve got animated political titles that satisfy adult-sized cravings: Family Guy, South Park, The Simpsons, and Hulu’s little known (and vastly underappreciated) superhero series, The Awesomes. Which isn’t all that surprising. Even Bugs Bunny was edgy in its time. (Though don’t bring up Archer. So far, I’m not impressed.)

But 2D Animation – especially in theatrical form – has deteriorated badly over the years. 

Seriously.  Think of the time-honored classics; ones that seem like superhumanly artistic feats today: Disney’s Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and the Lion King. Not to mention Don Bluth’s offerings: American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, The Secret of NIMH, and (Joss Whedon’s!) Titan AE. 

All rendered so exquisitely that the characters seemed to breath real life (unlike, say, Bob’s Burgers).

Call me a Dreamer and an idealist, but full 2D animation is not an art-form that should be allowed to slip away.

Then consider taking that genius, and welding to that to adult themes that resonate to one’s very soul.  That’s what us old folks (readGeneration X) glimpsed fleetingly with titles like Watership Down.

Sure, it’s been thirty+ years. But look on the bright side: technology and indie distribution avenues have increased, opening doors for 2D animation to now be reborn. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios itself opened its doors in 1923. Just less than a century’s gone by. No, we can’t stay children forever. Nor should we leave the potential of animation to JUST the young (vs. those of us now older-and-wiser, and more sophisticated – and yet still Young-At-Heart.)

New animators, artists and writers hear the call: it’s time for you to seize the reins. Re-energize and mature the 2d Animation genre.

And never, ever, ever let the animated dream and potential die.